Announcing --- Apprenticementor.com - a non-profit website where apprentices and mentors can find eachother.
This is an idea I've had for years and years, based on the success of my apprenticeship with Celie Fago. Suddenly everything was aligning to make this project a go. Most of all - the generosity of Simplenation.com in creating the website. I would happily write more about it here but why not just check out the site? Apprenticementor.com
So, it's been awhile. I carry a lot of guilt for not keeping up with my blog. But, what can ya do. You can only move forward and hope to do better. I don't know where the time went but I know I was busy...
Even this post is something I wanted to write over a week ago. Excuse me while I play catchup...
Saturday, May 22 was a BIG day. For weeks I worked on my new venture (more on that in the next post) and on making jewelry for the Burlington Artist Market. It was a crazy juggling act. Then the day came and there I was, at the first market of the season and it was AWESOME! How I missed the familiar faces and kids and dogs and food and art... we even had perfect weather.
Then we made our way down luscious, winding roads to the Bennington Museum for the Opening of "State of Craft" an exhibit that "celebrates the artistic, social and economic history of the studio crafts movement in Vermont over the last 50 years." I'm so honored to have my Journey Necklace in such an important Exhibition. 
I wouldn't be if it wasn't for my mentor: Celie Fago. The Opening was great, an exceptional exhibit, old friends, new friends, amazing food, blue grass music and an opportunity for us to pass out cards and talk about our new venture...
Now is the time of organization, with the new year comes a fresh start and, for me, a great sense of motivation. I want to grow, I want to make things more efficient, I want to be more productive while following the notion "work smarter not harder". I want to breathe in all the good, live in the moment and go with the flow...
Winters can be hard... so cold and so dark but they also make for a quiet time to get things done. In my first effort to get more organized I changed up my website a bit. I like having a "Current Work" section to show the kinds of pieces I make (but which aren't always available in my Etsy shop). The gallery of photos was getting longer and longer and there was no rhyme or reason to their placement. So, I created a gallery of galleries and moved all of that work (and more) into collections.
What a difference it makes - to me at least! As a visual learner, it's so nice to see it that way and even to just have it as a reference catalog for myself. One little step for my website but one large step for my sense of progress!
The holiday shows left me with not much jewelry so I'm busy making some work for my Etsy shop and for Trinket in time for Valentine's Day. Then back to working out the quirks...
Happy organizing!
Friday, Dec 18 12-8
Saturday, Dec 19 10-6
All the artists from the Artist Market will be at Contois Auditorium (City Hall) in Burlington selling their handmade wares to holiday shoppers. It's not too late to buy handmade...buy local.
It's that time again! This will be my 3rd year having a holiday trunk show at Sweet Lady Jane. It is so wonderful to spend the day in such an amazing boutique with gorgeous clothes and such a warm and friendly staff.
Women's Festival of Crafts, City Hall (149 Church St)
Friday Nov 27th 5-9 pm
Saturday Nov 28th 10-6 pm
Sunday November 29th 10-5 pm
Trunk show at Sweet Lady Jane (40 Church St.)
Saturday Dec 12th 10-6 pm
Holiday Artist Market, City Hall (149 Church St)Friday Dec 18 12-8
Saturday Dec 19 10-6 pm
In other news:
This is how I spent my Halloween...
Someday I'll write a blog post on every tip and trick I've learned when it comes to having a booth at an outside venue. For now, I just wanted to share a couple of key items that I often get asked about...
I just got a fabulous banner. I only had to look as far as Etsy to find a banner maker who was fast, affordable and friendly. His name is Paul Wilson and his Etsy shop is Wilson Graphics. He can print whatever you want on thick vinyl complete with grommets and he has a variety of sizes. I chose the 1' x 3'. It only cost $22 + $10 shipping and I received it 4 days after I ordered it!
Make your life easier with a good folding cart. This one at handtrucksrus.com is amazing. It folds up so small for storage and opens up so huge for carting all your wares.
I get business cards and postcards from Overnightprints.com. They have good prices and quick turn around time. I like to go with a matte finish and rounded corners.
I also recently got mini moo cards and I LOVE them. They are small but sturdy cards, you get 100 for $19.95 but the best part is, they can be 100 different images! It's so great to be able to get a variety of images and not be limited to just one. I picked 20 images of what's currently available in my Etsy shop and got 5 of each.
Thasall for now. Just wanted to share...
What a difference it makes - to me at least! As a visual learner, it's so nice to see it that way and even to just have it as a reference catalog for myself. One little step for my website but one large step for my sense of progress!
Friday, Dec 18 12-8
It's that time again! This will be my 3rd year having a holiday trunk show at Sweet Lady Jane. It is so wonderful to spend the day in such an amazing boutique with gorgeous clothes and such a warm and friendly staff. 
In other news:
I just got a fabulous banner. I only had to look as far as Etsy to find a banner maker who was fast, affordable and friendly. His name is Paul Wilson and his Etsy shop is Wilson Graphics. He can print whatever you want on thick vinyl complete with grommets and he has a variety of sizes. I chose the 1' x 3'. It only cost $22 + $10 shipping and I received it 4 days after I ordered it! 
